Author: Rachel-Jean Firchau

How to Design Your Home Office Space: My Essentials List

As someone who constantly juggles a full-time job, running a business, and maintaining this blog, I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to create a little area in your home that is entirely devoted to getting things done. Read on for tips on how to design a home office space that will keep you inspired.

5 Workout Ideas That Can Be Done At Home or On the Road

While vacation trips have their place, and enjoying relaxing time at home is essential, it’s so important to be vigilant about bouncing back after taking a break from your workout routine. Here are 5 workout ideas you can try from anywhere, whether you’re at home or on the road!

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Glacier National Park

Imagine tranquil water so still you can clearly see every colorful stone, glacier-dotted mountain peaks, and the kind of terrain that makes you forget you’re in the USA. That’s Glacier National Park. Read on for my guide to everything you need to know before you visit! 

Why Grand Rapids, Michigan is Your Gateway to a Perfect Midwest Summer

One thing I love about wandering around the US, just outside of the behemoth cities, is discovering what else is buzzing along, waiting to be uncovered by fresh eyes. For a relatively small city, Grand Rapids’ scene is impressively rich. And, Michiganders know how to do all seasons, but particularly summer, right.  Here are 7 reasons why Grand Rapids should be on your radar, from mind-blowing places to eat, to epic beach spots, and everything in between.

48 Hours to Fall in Love with Atlanta, Georgia

With just about 2 full days in Atlanta to myself to explore, I was able to cover a ton of ground. And while I didn’t hit any of the ‘touristy’ spots (you won’t see Coca Cola anywhere in this blog post, sorry), I did fill up my 48 hours with incredible food, diverse neighborhoods, and cocktails and beer so good that you’d think Southern hospitality could be bottled and sold. Read on for my 48-hour guide to Atlanta, Georgia.

5 Little Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Travel More

Last year, I took 15 trips in a year while working full-time! I’m not making significantly more money than the year before. I didn’t quit my job. And I definitely didn’t add more time to the 24 hours we’re all working with. I changed the way I think about the opportunities that are out there, and new doors started opening up that I never even noticed before. Here are 5 little mindset shifts I’ve noticed in myself that will help you get there.

How to Travel More With a Full-Time Job: 13 Actionable Tips

In one year of travel, in one year of going on 15 trips on top of a Monday-through-Friday job, here are some of my biggest takeaways, learnings, and tips that you can start implementing right NOW to make this year, next year, and the next one after that your BIGGEST year of adventure yet.

Ditch the Restaurant: 6 Unique Date Ideas In Los Angeles

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to round up some of my date ideas. Read on for 5 unique, crazy fun date ideas (for Valentine’s Day and beyond!) in and around Los Angeles, and why I love each of these creative ideas so much.

3 of the World’s Most Unique, Remote Hotels You Should Stay In

When work is hectic and you need to get away, someplace far off and removed from it the rest of the world can be the perfect way to recharge and spark new energy. Here are 3 unique hotels I’ve stayed in, in 3 amazing remote locations, that are destinations in themselves.

Checklist: 11 Things To Do the Day Before You Go on Vacation

Before you go on vacation, there’s a flurry of things buzzing around in your head. You’re excited, anxious, and maybe a bit stressed out. But even though it’s always going to be a little crazy during the days leading up to a vacation, it doesn’t have to be chaos.

Adventure 101: How to Choose Functional and Stylish Outdoor Gear

Now, everything from online marketplaces to physical retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods seem to be carrying a bigger-than-ever assortment of women’s performance gear at extremely affordable prices. So, if there was ever an ideal time to fall in love with the great outdoors as a woman, it’s now.

Take it Slow: How to Unwind and Recharge After A Vacation

Have you ever experienced the need to take a vacation from your vacation? Most of us do, but some of us ignore the urge to relax when we get back, because it’s way too tempting to open up your inbox as soon as you get home and just dive right back in. Don’t.

How to Be a Better Traveler: 7 Takeaways from Travel Con

Social media makes travel look accessible, but it also makes it look cookie-cutter. Because of this, it’s more important now than ever before to get out there and see the world for yourself, and by your own terms. Anything less is just secondhand experience.

How to Travel Smarter and Dress Better: My Take on New York Fashion Week (NYFW) Packing

Here is how I packed for NYFW, with all of my outfits fitting into half of a check-in luggage (the other half was occupied by things I wore in DC and Baltimore!). And, this isn’t exclusive to Fashion Week. These tips are the same ones I live by when packing for any trip where I need to be bringing my A-game from a wardrobe perspective, whether it’s a business trip, a wedding, or a formal event.

Road Trip: Isle of Skye, Scotland in Less than 48 Hours

Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most famous, picturesque isles, known for its breathtaking, untamed beauty and magical charm. Waterfalls, unreal terrain, towering cliffs, and unparalleled views make Skye a must-see, even if you’re short on time. While more time is, obviously, recommended if you have it, we had less than 48 hours. Here’s how we made that possible.

Note to Self: It’s Okay to Relax

These days, we’ve started to equate being busy with being significant. I have never seen this mindset more blatantly apparent than in Los Angeles, where everyone seems to be a writer-photographer-musician-actor who also works in a law office or delivers DoorDash during the day. Work is great, and having multiple things going for you is never a bad thing. But being overworked is potentially devastating.

It’s June Already? 5 Ways To Better Manage Your Time

6 months ago, we stood at the edge of the end of the year, leaning forward with big eyes and big dreams, wondering about all the things the new year would bring. Flash-forward to today. It’s June. How much have you done?

Off Duty in Seattle: A 3-Day Guide

There are a lot of beautiful, sunshiny destinations on the western side of the US. Los Angeles, San Diego, Hawaii, Scottsdale… But there’s a different atmosphere altogether that comes once you venture more up north to the Pacific Northwest.

Essential Weekend Guide to Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is everything you could ever want out of a west coast getaway–it’s coastal, close to wine country, picturesque, and the architecture everywhere you look makes you feel like you’re no longer in the US… which helps create the illusion that you’re in a much more remote destination than you actually are.

Stay in This Remote Hotel in Scotland: The Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse

If you do plan to visit Skye from any of Scotland’s major cities, one thing’s for sure. After a long, moderately intense, somewhat grueling and long drive, Skye isn’t just something you can see for 5 minutes and then hit the road. You’re going to need a place to stay. And that’s where the cowsheds, a remote Scotlands hotel, comes in.

International Women’s Day: How to Better Empower the Women in Our Lives

Before I go any further, let me make one thing clear–yes, I know. Not everyone’s a feminist or an activist. Not everyone reading this might personally feel like they’ve been affected by gender differences or inequality. Why does this all matter for you? I’ve honestly asked myself this question before on more than one occasion.

48 Hours in Utah: Salt Lake City and Park City

Utah. When you think of it, you probably immediately think of sprawling red rock formations, mountain biking, snow, and ski resorts. But without a car, and with no mountain biking/snowboarding/skiing experience, I wasn’t here to do any of that.So, what’s the draw of going to Utah when you’re not going for the snow? A lot, actually.

5 Tips for Starting to Network (and How I Used Them to Organize my First Meet-up!)

You know the saying. “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.” You’ve probably hear some iteration of this at one point or another. I can recall back in college when I first moved to California and learned the importance of “networking,” and I remember thinking to myself that networking seemed to come so easily to everybody… but me.

City Guide: Off Duty in Glasgow

Just an hour away from Edinburgh, Glasgow is a lively city waiting to be explored. Check out my guide on things to do in Glasgow below.

Making New Year Action Plans That Stick

Instead of simply making some lofty “New Year’s Resolution” that sounds eloquent but doesn’t actually stick, focus instead on making New Year’s action plans. At the beginning of each year, it’s important to be honest with yourself, ask where you envision yourself 12 months from now, and create a game plan to get yourself there.

How to Pack for a Winter Vacation

Packing for a winter vacation can be the most challenging! Use these tips for your next winter trip to help you pack light and stay warm.